Month: June 2009
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The inevitability of parental choice
By Howie Rich A year ago, the nation’s largest newspaper wrote in an editorial that it was time to “move beyond vouchers” in the debate over America’s educational future. Although it did not reject any particular solution outright, the paper’s recommendation at the time was that America focus its energy and attention on less controversial…
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Chemical facilities act would increase cost, not safety
As reported earlier, the United States Congress is considering legislation — the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards — that will increase regulation on chemical plants and facilities. The proposed legislation, however, would extend government control into another of our nation’s most important industries. It would require companies to change their manufacturing processes and substitute products in…
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School choice is a civil rights issue
Al Sharpton called school reform the civil rights challenge of our time. He said that the enemy of opportunity for blacks in the U.S. was once Jim Crow; today, in a slap at the educational establishment, he said it was “Professor James Crow.” Sharpton is only partly correct. School reform is not solely a racial…
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Why climate models are wrong
Could the science behind all the models that predict global warming be wrong? Dr. Roy Spencer believes it is. His article A Layman’s Explanation of Why Global Warming Predictions by Climate Models are Wrong takes a while to read, but it’s worth the time and effort.
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Another Kansas electricity rate hike
Kansas cusomers served by electric utility Westar are facing another rate increase. It’s a “follow-up” rate increase, coming after several other recent rate increases. The purpose is to pay for “the second phase of its Emporia Energy Center and two Westar-owned wind farms.”
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The empty arena
Kansas City’s Sprint Center (that’s their new downtown arena) is suffering from underuse. The Atlantic article The Empty Arena tells the story. Its subtitle is “If you build it, they might not come.” Despite being managed by a well-connected and experienced management group, no professional basketball or hockey team has moved in.
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Seven principles of sound public policy
Lawrence W. Reed, now the president of the Foundation for Economic Education, has a short booklet available that can help citizens analyze whether a government policy is sound. Titled Seven Principles of Sound Public Policy, it’s a comfortably short pamphlet of just 11 pages. But it’s full of a lot of wisdom.
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Kansas historic tax credits should end
The Wichita Business Journal reports that without historic tax credits, some redevelopment projects might stop. In other words — the Business Journal isn’t quite so blunt — if taxpayers don’t give developers money, some of their projects might not be economically feasible. Or so the developers say.
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Budget battles in Topeka
The following analysis by Flint Hills Center for Public Policy Fellow Jonathan Williams provides a useful summary of the past legislative session in Kansas regarding the budget. Now that lawmakers have left Topeka after adjourning the 2009 legislative session, we have some time to reflect on their actions.
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Another Evangelical’s view of creation
Wichita Geophysicist Dennis Hedke explains the problems with the beliefs held by radical environmentalist Rev. Richard Cizik. This is the unabridged version of a letter that appeared in the Wichita Eagle.
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Government-run health care focus of June 6 demonstration
This Saturday, Wichita-area citizens will have an opportunity to let their fellow citizens and the Obama administration know of the dangers of government control of health care. The event will be on Saturday, June 6, 2009, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.